Mobile terminal including a body including a first frame and a second frame and control method therefor

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal and a control method therefor are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a body, an input unit configured to sense user input, a display coupled to the body to vary a display region viewed from a front of the body according to switching between an enlarged display mode and a reduced display mode, and a controller. The controller controls output of at least one application on the display in the enlarged display mode, controls output of an editing screen upon receiving a signal for switching to the reduced display mode, and controls switching to the reduced display mode based on a result of the editing screen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a), this application claims the benefit ofan earlier filing date and right of priority to InternationalApplication No. PCT/KR2020/009949 filed on Jul. 28, 2020, the contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal and a control methodtherefor. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a mobileterminal for controlling switching from an enlarged display mode to areduced display mode, and a control method therefor.

Discussion of the Related Art

Terminals may be classified into mobile/portable terminals or stationaryterminals according to mobility thereof. Mobile terminals may also beclassified into handheld terminals or vehicle mounted terminalsaccording to whether or not a user can directly carry the terminal.

Functions of mobile terminals are diversifying. For example, thefunctions include data and voice communication, photography and videocapture using a camera, voice recording, music file playback through aspeaker system, and image or video output on a display. Terminals may beclassified into mobile/portable terminals or stationary terminalsaccording to mobility thereof. Mobile terminals may also be classifiedinto handheld terminals or vehicle mounted terminals according towhether or not a user can directly carry the terminal.

Functions of mobile terminals are diversifying. For example, thefunctions include data and voice communication, photography and videocapture using a camera, voice recording, music file playback through aspeaker system, and image or video output on a display. Some terminalsadditionally have an electronic gaming function or perform multimediaplayer functions.

Particularly, recent mobile terminals may receive multicast signals thatprovide visual content such as broadcast, videos, or televisionprograms.

As functions of such terminals are diversified, the terminals areimplemented in the form of a multimedia player equipped with compositefunctions such as photograph or video capture, music or video fileplayback, and broadcast reception.

To support and increase the functions of the terminals, improvement of astructural part and/or software part of the terminals may be considered.

Recently, a flexible display having sufficient elasticity and capable oflarge deformation has been developed. The size of a mobile terminal canbe varied using the deformable nature of the flexible display.

In particular, with the emergence of an extended display, althoughtechnology capable of using an extended screen of the mobile terminal bysplitting the screen has been developed, there is not much userexperience (UX) related to switching between an enlarged display modeand a reduced display mode.

In addition, when the extended display switches to the reduced displaymode after multiple applications are output on the extended display,which application is to be output in a contracted display isproblematic.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to solve the above problem andother problems.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminalfor controlling switching from an enlarged display mode to a reduceddisplay mode, and a control method therefor.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, amobile terminal includes a body, an input unit configured to sense userinput, a display coupled to the body to vary a display region viewedfrom a front of the body according to switching between an enlargeddisplay mode and a reduced display mode, and a controller. Thecontroller controls output of at least one application on the display inthe enlarged display mode, controls output of an editing screen uponreceiving a signal for switching to the reduced display mode, andcontrols switching to the reduced display mode based on a result of theediting screen.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol output of a layout icon and a thumbnail image of the at leastone application which is being output in the enlarged display mode, onthe editing screen.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol switching to the reduced display mode based on an input signalfor selecting the layout icon and the thumbnail image.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol switching to the reduced display mode based on an input signalfor selecting a first layout icon and a thumbnail image and controloutput of an application related with the first thumbnail image in thereduced display mode, and the first layout icon may be related with alayout for outputting one application in the reduced display mode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol switching to the reduced display mode based on an input signalfor selecting a second layout icon, a second thumbnail image, and athird thumbnail image and control output of applications related withthe second thumbnail image and the third thumbnail image in the reduceddisplay mode, and the second layout icon may be related with a layoutfor outputting two applications in the reduced display mode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol output of a visual effect to a background region except for thelayout icon and the thumbnail image on the editing screen.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol output of a thumbnail image of the at least one applicationwhich is being output in the enlarged display mode and a preview imageof an application to be output in the reduced display mode, on theediting screen.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol, based on an input signal for selecting the thumbnail image,addition of the selected thumbnail image to the preview image andcontrol switching to the reduced display mode according to the previewimage.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the at least oneapplication which is being output in the enlarged display mode mayinclude a first application and a second application, and based on thefirst application related with an application executed by occurrence ofan event, the controller may control switching from the enlarged displaymode to the reduced display mode upon end of an event of the firstapplication.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol change of origin coordinates of the first application and thesecond application based on the first application located at a portionfrom which the display is contracted in the enlarged display mode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol interchange of locations of the first application and the secondapplication based on the first application located at a portion fromwhich the display is contracted in the enlarged display mode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the at least oneapplication which is being output in the enlarged display mode mayinclude a third application and a fourth application, and based on thethird application related with a preset application, the controller maycontrol switching to the reduced display mode in a state of maintainingoutput of the third application upon receiving the signal for switchingto the reduced display mode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, whether anyapplication is the preset application may be determined based on atleast one of configuration or non-configuration of an application by theuser, a main screen ratio of an application, focusing or non-focusing ofan application in the enlarged display mode, or the number offrequencies of an application used alone in the reduced display mode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure the controller maycontrol change of a screen size of the third application based on thereduced display mode upon controlling switching to the reduced displaymode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the controller maycontrol output of a visual effect to applications except for the thirdapplication upon controlling switching to the reduced display mode.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the body may include afirst frame and a second frame and the second frame is extendable orcontractible from the first frame, and the controller may controloperation in the enlarged display mode based on extension of the secondframe and controls operation in the reduced display mode based oncontraction of the second frame.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the display mayinclude a flexible display surrounding the front, a side, and a rear ofthe body, and the controller may control movement of a display portionpositioned on the side of the body to the front of the body and controlmovement of a display portion positioned on the rear of the body to thefront of the body via the side of the body, based on extension of thesecond frame, and control movement of a display portion positioned onthe front of the body to the side of the body or to the rear of the bodyvia the side of the body, based on contraction of the second frame.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the mobile terminalmay further include further comprising a driving unit configured toextend or contract the second frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method ofcontrolling a mobile terminal including a display coupled to a body tovary a display region viewed from a front of the body according toswitching between an enlarged display mode and a reduced display mode,includes controlling output of at least one application on the displayin the enlarged display mode, controlling output of an editing screenupon receiving a signal for switching to the reduced display mode, andcontrolling switching to the reduced display mode based on a result ofthe editing screen.

Further scopes of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following detailed description. However, those skilledin the art may understand that various modifications and changes may bepossible within the concept and scope of the present disclosure and thedetailed description and specific examples, such as exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure, will be given by way of illustrationonly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of thedisclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal in accordance with thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first state and a second state of the mobileterminal in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the first state and the second state of themobile terminal in accordance with an embodiment;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of the mobile terminal inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the mobile terminal as viewed from a thirddirection;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a driving unit of the mobile terminal inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A and B-B in FIG.2;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating constituent modules of a mobileterminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10a is a diagram illustrating an embodiment for switching from anenlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10b is a diagram illustrating another embodiment for switching froman enlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11a is a diagram illustrating another embodiment for switching froman enlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11b is a diagram illustrating another embodiment for switching froman enlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of switching from anenlarged display mode to a reduced display mode after an event is endedin a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 13a is a diagram illustrating a problem when an application islocated at a portion from which the display is contracted.

FIG. 13b is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of changing origincoordinates of an application in a mobile terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13c is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of changing thelocations of applications in a mobile terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of maintaining output ofa preset application in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of changing a screensize of an application in a mobile terminal according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of switching from anenlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplaryembodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to thedrawings, the same or equivalent components may be provided with thesame reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. Ingeneral, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer toelements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intendedto facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself isnot intended to give any special meaning or function. In the presentdisclosure, that which is well-known to one of ordinary skill in therelevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity. Theaccompanying drawings are used to help easily understand varioustechnical features and it should be understood that the embodimentspresented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such,the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations,equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularlyset out in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may beused herein to describe various elements, these elements should not belimited by these terms. These terms are generally only used todistinguish one element from another.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected with” another element, the element may be directly connectedwith the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Incontrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connectedwith” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless itrepresents a definitely different meaning from the context.

Terms such as “include” or “has” are used herein and should beunderstood that they are intended to indicate an existence of severalcomponents, functions or steps, disclosed in the specification, and itis also understood that greater or fewer components, functions, or stepsmay likewise be utilized.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

The mobile terminal 100 is shown having components such as a wirelesscommunication unit 110, an input unit 120, a sensing unit 140, an outputunit 150, an interface unit 160, a memory 170, a controller 180, and apower supply unit 190. Referring now to FIG. 1A, the mobile terminal 100is shown having wireless communication unit 110 configured with severalcommonly implemented components. It is understood that implementing allof the illustrated components is not a requirement, and that greater orfewer components may alternatively be implemented.

More specifically, the wireless communication unit 110 typicallyincludes one or more modules which permit communications such aswireless communications between the mobile terminal 100 and a wirelesscommunication system, communications between the mobile terminal 100 andanother mobile terminal, communications between the mobile terminal 100and an external server. Further, the wireless communication unit 110typically includes one or more modules which connect the mobile terminal100 to one or more networks.

To facilitate such communications, the wireless communication unit 110includes one or more of a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobilecommunication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short-rangecommunication module 114, and a location information module 115.

Regarding the wireless communication unit 110, the broadcast receivingmodule 111 is typically configured to receive a broadcast signal and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managingentity via a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include asatellite channel, a terrestrial channel, or both. In some embodiments,two or more broadcast receiving modules 111 may be utilized tofacilitate simultaneously receiving of two or more broadcast channels,or to support switching among broadcast channels.

The mobile communication module 112 may transmit and/or receive wirelesssignals to and from one or more network entities. Typical examples of anetwork entity include a base station, an external mobile terminal, aserver, and the like. Such network entities form part of a mobilecommunication network, which is constructed according to technicalstandards or communication methods for mobile communications (forexample, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code DivisionMulti Access (CDMA), CDMA2000 (Code Division Multi Access 2000), EV-DO(Enhanced Voice-Data Optimized or Enhanced Voice-Data Only), WidebandCDMA (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet access (HSDPA), HSUPA (HighSpeed Uplink Packet Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-A (Long TermEvolution-Advanced), and the like).

Examples of wireless signals transmitted and/or received via the mobilecommunication module 112 include audio call signals, video (telephony)call signals, or various formats of data to support communication oftext and multimedia messages.

The wireless Internet module 113 is configured to facilitate wirelessInternet access. This module may be internally or externally coupled tothe mobile terminal 100. The wireless Internet module 113 may transmitand/or receive wireless signals via communication networks according towireless Internet technologies.

Examples of such wireless Internet access include Wireless LAN (WLAN),Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Digital Living Network Alliance(DLNA), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA),HSUPA(High Speed Uplink Packet Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-A(Long Term Evolution-Advanced), and the like. The wireless Internetmodule 113 may transmit/receive data according to one or more of suchwireless Internet technologies, and other Internet technologies as well.

In some embodiments, when the wireless Internet access is implementedaccording to, for example, WiBro, HSDPA, HSUPA, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE,LTE-A and the like, as part of a mobile communication network, thewireless Internet module 113 performs such wireless Internet access. Assuch, the Internet module 113 may cooperate with, or function as, themobile communication module 112.

The short-range communication module 114 is configured to facilitateshort-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing suchshort-range communications include Bluetooth™, Radio FrequencyIDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-WideBand(UWB), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), Wireless-Fidelity(Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB), and thelike. The short-range communication module 114 in general supportswireless communications between the mobile terminal 100 and a wirelesscommunication system, communications between the mobile terminal 100 andanother mobile terminal 100, or communications between the mobileterminal and a network where another mobile terminal 100 (or an externalserver) is located, via wireless area networks. One example of thewireless area networks is a wireless personal area networks.

The location information module 115 is generally configured to detect,calculate, derive or otherwise identify a position of the mobileterminal. As an example, the location information module 115 includes aGlobal Position System (GPS) module, a Wi-Fi module, or both. Ifdesired, the location information module 115 may alternatively oradditionally function with any of the other modules of the wirelesscommunication unit 110 to obtain data related to the position of themobile terminal. As one example, when the mobile terminal uses a GPSmodule, a position of the mobile terminal may be acquired using a signalsent from a GPS satellite. As another example, when the mobile terminaluses the Wi-Fi module, a position of the mobile terminal may be acquiredbased on information related to a wireless access point (AP) whichtransmits or receives a wireless signal to or from the Wi-Fi module.

The input unit 120 includes a camera 121 for obtaining images or video,a microphone 122, which is one type of audio input device for inputtingan audio signal, and a user input unit 123 (for example, a touch key, apush key, a mechanical key, a soft key, and the like) for allowing auser to input information. Data (for example, audio, video, image, andthe like) is obtained by the input unit 120 and may be analyzed andprocessed by controller 180 according to device parameters, usercommands, and combinations thereof.

Such cameras 121 may process image frames of still pictures or videoobtained by image sensors in a video or image capture mode. Theprocessed image frames may be displayed on the display unit 151 orstored in memory 170. In some cases, the cameras 121 may be arranged ina matrix configuration to permit a plurality of images having variousangles or focal points to be input to the mobile terminal 100. Asanother example, the cameras 121 may be located in a stereoscopicarrangement to acquire left and right images for implementing astereoscopic image.

The microphone 122 is generally implemented to permit audio input to themobile terminal 100. The audio input may be processed in various mannersaccording to a function being executed in the mobile terminal 100. Ifdesired, the microphone 122 may include assorted noise removingalgorithms to remove unwanted noise generated in the course of receivingthe external audio.

The user input unit 123 is a component that permits input by a user.Such user input may enable the controller 180 to control operation ofthe mobile terminal 100. The user input unit 123 may include one or moreof a mechanical input element (for example, a key, a button located on afront and/or rear surface or a side surface of the mobile terminal 100,a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like), or atouch-sensitive input, among others. As one example, the touch-sensitiveinput may be a virtual key or a soft key, which is displayed on a touchscreen through software processing, or a touch key which is located onthe mobile terminal at a location that is other than the touch screen.On the other hand, the virtual key or the visual key may be displayed onthe touch screen in various shapes, for example, graphic, text, icon,video, or a combination thereof.

The sensing unit 140 is typically implemented using one or more sensorsconfigured to sense internal information of the mobile terminal, thesurrounding environment of the mobile terminal, user information, andthe like. For example, the sensing unit 140 may alternatively oradditionally include other types of sensors or devices, such as aproximity sensor 141 and an illumination sensor 142, a touch sensor, anacceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, a G-sensor, a gyroscope sensor,a motion sensor, an RGB sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a finger scansensor, a ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor (for example, camera121), a microphone 122, a battery gauge, an environment sensor (forexample, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, a radiation detectionsensor, a thermal sensor, and a gas sensor, among others), and achemical sensor (for example, an electronic nose, a health care sensor,a biometric sensor, and the like), to name a few. The mobile terminal100 may be configured to utilize information obtained from sensing unit140, and in particular, information obtained from one or more sensors ofthe sensing unit 140, and combinations thereof.

The output unit 150 is typically configured to output various types ofinformation, such as audio, video, tactile output, and the like. Theoutput unit 150 is shown having a display unit 151, an audio outputmodule 152, a haptic module 153, and an optical output module 154. Thedisplay unit 151 may have an inter-layered structure or an integratedstructure with a touch sensor in order to facilitate a touch screen. Thetouch screen may provide an output interface between the mobile terminal100 and a user, as well as function as the user input unit 123 whichprovides an input interface between the mobile terminal 100 and theuser.

The audio output module 152 is generally configured to output audiodata. Such audio data may be obtained from any of a number of differentsources, such that the audio data may be received from the wirelesscommunication unit 110 or may have been stored in the memory 170. Theaudio data may be output during modes such as a signal reception mode, acall mode, a record mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcastreception mode, and the like. The audio output module 152 may provideaudible output related to a particular function (e.g., a call signalreception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed by themobile terminal 100. The audio output module 152 may also be implementedas a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, or the like.

A haptic module 153 may be configured to generate various tactileeffects that a user feels, perceive, or otherwise experience. A typicalexample of a tactile effect generated by the haptic module 153 isvibration. The strength, pattern and the like of the vibration generatedby the haptic module 153 may be controlled by user selection or settingby the controller. For example, the haptic module 153 may outputdifferent vibrations in a combining manner or a sequential manner.

An optical output module 154 may output a signal for indicating an eventgeneration using light of a light source. Examples of events generatedin the mobile terminal 100 may include message reception, call signalreception, a missed call, an alarm, a schedule notice, an emailreception, information reception through an application, and the like.

The interface unit 160 serves as an interface with various types ofexternal devices that may be coupled to the mobile terminal 100. Theinterface unit 160, for example, may include any of wired or wirelessports, external power supply ports, wired or wireless data ports, memorycard ports, ports for connecting a device having an identificationmodule, audio input/output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports,and the like. In some cases, the mobile terminal 100 may performassorted control functions associated with a connected external device,in response to the external device being connected to the interface unit160.

The memory 170 is typically implemented to store data to support variousfunctions or features of the mobile terminal 100. For instance, thememory 170 may be configured to store application programs executed inthe mobile terminal 100, data or instructions for operations of themobile terminal 100, and the like. Some of these application programsmay be downloaded from an external server via wireless communication.Other application programs may be installed within the mobile terminal100 at time of manufacturing or shipping, which is typically the casefor basic functions of the mobile terminal 100 (for example, receiving acall, placing a call, receiving a message, sending a message, and thelike). It is common for application programs to be stored in the memory170, installed in the mobile terminal 100, and executed by thecontroller 180 to perform an operation (or function) for the mobileterminal 100.

The controller 180 typically functions to control overall operation ofthe mobile terminal 100, in addition to the operations associated withthe application programs. The controller 180 may provide or processinformation or functions appropriate for a user by processing signals,data, information and the like, which are input or output, or activatingapplication programs stored in the memory 170.

To drive the application programs stored in the memory 170, thecontroller 180 may be implemented to control a predetermined number ofthe components mentioned above in reference with FIG. 1A. Moreover, thecontroller 180 may be implemented to combinedly operate two or more ofthe components provided in the mobile terminal 100 to drive theapplication programs.

The power supply unit 190 may be configured to receive external power orprovide internal power in order to supply appropriate power required foroperating elements and components included in the mobile terminal 100.The power supply unit 190 may include a battery, and the battery may beconfigured to be embedded in the terminal body, or configured to bedetachable from the terminal body.

Some or more of the components may be operated cooperatively to embodyan operation, control or a control method of the mobile terminal inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, theoperation, control or control method of the mobile terminal may berealized on the mobile terminal by driving of one or more applicationproblems stored in the memory 170.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first state and a second state of the mobileterminal in accordance with an embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a rear view ofthe first state and the second state of the mobile terminal inaccordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 2(a) and 3(a) are views showing thefirst state in which the mobile terminal is contracted, and FIGS. 2(b)and 3(b) are views showing the second state in which the mobile terminalis extended.

As shown in the figures, the mobile terminal 100 in the first state isin a contracted position, and has a smaller size than the mobileterminal 100 in the second state. In addition, the size of the displayunit 151 positioned on the front of the mobile terminal 100 is alsosmaller than in the second state. The mobile terminal 100 in the firststate may be extended in a first direction D1 to switch to the secondstate. In the second state, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the size of themobile terminal 100 and the size of the display unit 151 positioned onthe front of the mobile terminal 100 are larger than in the first state,while the size of the display unit 151 positioned on the rear of themobile terminal 100 is reduced as shown in FIG. 3(b). That is, a part ofthe display units 151 positioned on the rear of the mobile terminal 151in the first state moves to the front of the mobile terminal 100 in thesecond state.

In the following description, the direction in which the mobile terminal100 and the display unit 151 thereof are extended or enlarged is definedas a first direction D1, and the direction in which the mobile terminalcontracts or retracts or is reduced to switch from the second state tothe first state is defined as a second direction D2. A directionperpendicular to the first and second directions D1 and D2 is defined asa third direction. Description will be made on the assumption that thefirst and second directions are horizontal directions and the thirddirection is a vertical direction. However, depending on the arrangementof the mobile terminal 100, the first and second directions may bevertical directions and the third direction may be a horizontaldirection.

As such, a flexible display unit 151 which is bendable may be used asthe display unit such that the position of the display unit may bevaried. The flexible display unit 151 may be a display unit capable ofmaintaining a flat state like a conventional flat panel display andcapable of warping, bending, folding, twisting, or rolling like paper.The flexible display unit 151 refers to a display which is manufacturedon a thin and flexible substrate and is thus lightweight and robust asnot to be easily broken. The flexible display unit according the presentdisclosure may be bent in a specific direction, and may be arranged suchthat the curvature thereof may change in the first direction.

In addition, an electronic paper is a display technology to whichproperties of general ink are applied. The electronic paper may bedifferent from the conventional flat panel display in using reflectedlight. The electronic paper may change information using a twisted ballor electrophoresis using a capsule.

In a state in which the flexible display unit 151 is not deformed (e.g.,a state of having an infinite curvature radius, hereinafter referred toas a basic state), a display region of the flexible display unit 151becomes flat. In a state in which the flexible display unit 151 isdeformed by an external force from the basic state (e.g., a state ofhaving a finite radius of curvature, hereinafter referred to as adeformed state), the display region may become a curved face. As shown,information displayed in the deformation state may be visual informationoutput on the curved face. Such visual information is implemented byindependently controlling light emission of sub-pixels arranged in amatrix. The sub-pixel refers to a minimum unit for implementing onecolor. When external force is applied to the flexible display unit 151,the flexible display unit 151 may be deformed to switch from the defaultstate, which is the flat state, to a bent state, which is not the flatstate.

The flexible display unit 151 may be combined with a touch sensor toimplement a flexible touch screen. When a touch is made on the flexibletouch screen, the controller 180 (see FIG. 1) may perform controlcorresponding to such touch input. The flexible touch screen may beconfigured to detect the touch input in the deformed state as well as inthe basic state.

The touch sensor detects the touch (or touch input) applied on the touchscreen using at least one of various touch schemes such as a resistivefilm scheme, a capacitance scheme, an infrared scheme, an ultrasonicwave scheme, a magnetic field scheme, and the like.

As an example, the touch sensor may be configured to convert a change inpressure applied on a specific portion of the touch screen, capacitancegenerated at the specific portion, or the like into an electrical inputsignal. The touch sensor may be configured such that a touch objectapplying a touch on the touch screen may detect touched position andarea on the touch sensor, a pressure during the touch, a capacitanceduring the touch, and the like.

Further, the mobile terminal 100 may have a deformation detection meansfor detecting the deformation of the flexible display unit 151. Suchdeformation detection means may be included in the sensing unit 140 (seeFIG. 1).

The deformation detection means may be disposed in the flexible displayunit 151 or a case (first to second frames 101 to 102 to be describedlater) to detect information related to the deformation of the flexibledisplay unit 151. In this connection, the information related to thedeformation may include a direction in which the flexible display unit151 is deformed, a degree of the deformation, a deformed position, adeformed time, an acceleration at which the deformed flexible displayunit 151 is restored, and the like. In addition, the information relatedto the deformation may include various kinds of information that may bedetected due to the bending of the flexible display unit 151.

In addition, the controller 180 may change information displayed on theflexible display unit 151 or generate a control signal for controlling afunction of the mobile terminal 100 based on the information related tothe deformation of the flexible display unit 151 detected by thedeformation detection means.

The deformation of the flexible display unit 151 may vary depending onthe positions of the first frame 101 and the second frame 102. As shownin FIG. 2, since the bending position on the flexible display unit 151is determined according to the positions of the first frame and thesecond frame, the bending deformation position of the flexible displayunit 151 and the area thereof positioned on the front may be calculatedbased on the positions of the first frame 101 and the second frame 102in place of the deformation detection means of the flexible display unit151.

The state conversion (first or second state) of the flexible displayunit 151, i.e., the size change at the front and rear faces of themobile terminal 100 of the display unit 151 based on the size change ofthe mobile terminal 100 may be performed manually by a force applied bythe user, but may be not limited to such manual scheme. For example,when the mobile terminal 100 or the flexible display unit 151 is in thefirst state, the mobile terminal 100 or the flexible display unit 151may be converted into the second state by the user or an applicationcommand without the external force applied by the user. As such, inorder for the flexible display unit 151 to be automatically deformedwithout the external force, the mobile terminal 100 may include adriving unit 200, which will be described later.

The flexible display unit 151 of the present disclosure is bent 180degrees by rolling around a side portion of the mobile terminal 100facing in the first direction. Accordingly, based on the side portion ofthe mobile terminal 100, a part of the flexible display unit 151 isdisposed on the front of the mobile terminal 100, and the other part ofthe flexible display unit 151 is disposed on the rear of the mobileterminal 100. For simplicity, the part of the flexible display unit 151positioned on the front is called a front face, and the other part ofthe flexible display unit 151 positioned on the rear is called a rearface. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal may extend in thefirst direction or contract in the second direction opposite to thefirst direction. In this case, the area of the flexible display unit 151positioned on the front changes. That is, the sizes of the front faceand the rear face may be changed according to a change in the state ofthe mobile terminal.

The part of the flexible display unit 151 positioned on the front of themobile terminal 100 may be immovably fixed to the front surface of thefirst frame 101, and the other part thereof positioned on the rear ofthe mobile terminal 100 may be movably arranged on the rear of themobile terminal 100.

In addition, the flexible display unit 151 may be rolled on or releasedat the side portion in the first direction of mobile terminal.Accordingly, the rear face of the display unit 151 moves, so that thesize of the front face of the display unit 151 may be adjusted. Sincethe size of the flexible display unit 151 is determined and the flexibledisplay unit 151 is formed of one continuous body, an area of rear faceof the display unit 151 decreases as an area of the front face of thedisplay unit 151 increases. Such a display unit 151 may be rolled in asecond frame 102, which is movable relative to a first frame 101 to bedescribed later, more correctly, on one of sides of the second frame102. The display unit 151 may be withdrawn or pulled out from orinserted or pushed into the second frame 102 while being rolled in thesecond frame 102 along a moving direction of the second frame 102 toadjust the area of the display unit 151 on the front face of the mobileterminal 100. Such operation will be described in more detail belowalong with other relevant components of the mobile terminal 100.

Typically, an antenna is disposed in the case or the housing of themobile terminal 100, but a portion where the antenna is installed in thecase or the housing may be limited because of the flexible display unit151 that covers not only the front face of the mobile terminal 100 butalso the rear face thereof. For this reason, the antenna may beimplemented on the flexible display unit 151. An antenna on display(AOD) is an antenna in which a transparent film is formed by stacking anelectrode layer and a dielectric layer that have patterns engravedthereon, respectively. The antenna on display may be implemented thinnerthan an antenna implemented using a laser direct structuring (LDS)technology using a conventional copper nickel plating scheme, so thatthe antenna on display may not be exposed to the outside withoutaffecting a thickness. In addition, the antenna on display may transmitand receive a signal directly to or from the display unit 151.Accordingly, the antenna on display may be used in the mobile terminal100 in which the display unit 151 is located on the both faces of themobile terminal 100 as in the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of the mobile terminal inaccordance with an embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view ofthe mobile terminal as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 5 is anexploded perspective view of the mobile terminal as viewed from the rearside.

The mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure includes frames 101and 102 in which components are mounted, and the frames 101 and 102 ofthe present disclosure may vary in size in the first direction as shownin FIG. 2. One or more frames 101 and 102 move relative to each other,and sizes thereof may vary in the first direction. Electronic componentsare mounted in the frames 101 and 102, and the flexible display unit 151is located out of the frames 101 and 102.

Since the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure includes theflexible display unit 151, the flexible display unit 151 may be combinedin a form surrounding front faces and rear faces of the frames 101 and102. The frame may include the first frame 101 and the second frame 102moving in the first direction with respect to the first frame 101. Thefirst frame 101 and the second frame 102 include front portions, rearportions, and side portions, respectively, and are coupled to eachother.

First, the first frame 101 corresponds to a main body of the mobileterminal 100, and may have a space between the first front portion 1011and the first rear portion 1012 therein for accommodating variouscomponents. In addition, the first frame 101 may accommodate the secondframe 102 movably coupled to the first frame 101 in such a space. Morespecifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first frame 101 may includea first front portion 1011 disposed at a front portion of the mobileterminal 100 and supporting the front face of the display unit 151 and afirst rear portion 1012 disposed at a rear portion of the mobileterminal and on which various components are mounted.

The first front portion 1011 and the first rear portion 1012 may bespaced apart from each other at a predetermined spacing to define apredetermined space therebetween, and may be connected to each other bya first side portion 1013. The first side portion 1013 may be integrallyformed with the first rear portion 1012 or the first front portion 1011.The camera 121, the audio output module 152, and the input/outputterminal 161, the controller 180, and the power supply unit 190 may beaccommodated as components of the mobile terminal 100 in the space inthe first frame 101. For example, the controller 180 may be a circuitboard 181 including a processor and an electronic circuit forcontrolling the operation of the mobile terminal, and the power supplyunit 190 may be a battery 191 and related components. In addition, thedriving unit 200 that controls the slide movement of the second frame102, which will be described later, may also be accommodated in thefirst frame 101.

As described above, the display unit 151 has the continuous body, andthus, may be disposed on both the front face and the rear face of themobile terminal 100 while being rolled in the mobile terminal 100. Thedisplay unit 151 may include the front face positioned at the front faceof the mobile terminal 100, the rear face positioned at the rear face ofthe mobile terminal 100, and the side face positioned between the frontface and the rear face thereof and surrounding the side face of themobile terminal. The front face and the rear face of the display unit151 are flat, and the side face of the display unit 151 may form acurved face. The flexible display unit 151 may be damaged when beingbent at an angle. Thus, the flexible display unit 151 may be formed tobe bent with a predetermined curvature at the side face.

The display unit 151 may be divided into a fixed portion 151 a and 151 band a variable portion 151 c. The fixed portion 151 a and 151 b means aportion fixed to the frame. Because of being fixed to the frame, thefixed portion 151 a and 151 b maintains a constant shape withoutchanging a bending degree. On the other hand, the variable portion 151 cmeans a portion in which a bending angle or a position of the bentportion changes. The variable portion 151 c in which the position orbending angle of the bent portion changes requires a structure forsupporting a rear face of the variable portion 151 c in response to thechange.

The fixed portion 151 a, 151 b is coupled to the first frame of thedisplay unit and is always positioned on the front face of the displayunit to form a portion of the front face of the display unit. Thevariable portion 151 c includes a side face located at a side portion ofthe mobile terminal, and a position of the side face varies depending onthe position of the second frame. Based on a side face, an area of aportion disposed on the front face of the display unit and an area of aportion disposed on the rear face of the display unit vary. That is, aportion of the variable portion 151 c may be the front face and anotherportion of the variable portion 151 c may be the rear face based on thefirst and second states. The variable portion 151 c is positioned in thefirst direction with respect to the fixed portion 151 a, 151 b relativeto the mobile terminal, and an end of the variable portion 151 c is benttoward the rear face of the mobile terminal and slides on the rear faceof the second frame.

The end of the variable portion of the display unit is coupled with aslide frame that guides the variable portion to slide move on the rearface of the second frame, and the slide frame moves in the firstdirection at the same time as the second frame moves in the firstdirection. As a result, a moving distance of the slide frame withrespect to the first frame is twice as a moving distance of the secondframe with respect to the first frame. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, thefirst rear portion 1012 of the mobile terminal 100 includes an exposedrear portion 1015 that is exposed to the outside without being coveredby the display unit 151 even in the first state. The physical input unit120 for the manipulation of the mobile terminal 100 such as variousbuttons, switches, the camera 121, and a flash, and the sensing unit 140such as the proximity sensor 141 or a fingerprint sensor may be arrangedon the exposed rear portion 1015. The first rear portion 1012 except forthe exposed rear portion 1015 may be covered by the display unit 151 inthe first state as shown in FIG. 3(a), and may be exposed rearward inthe second state as shown in FIG. 3(b).

In a conventional bar-shaped terminal, a display unit is provided onlyon a front face of the terminal. Therefore, a main camera is placed on arear face of the terminal in order for the user to capture an object atan opposite side while looking through the display unit. On the otherhand, an additional auxiliary camera is required to be disposed on thefront face of the terminal in order for the user to capture himself orherself while viewing himself or herself through the display unit.

In the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure, on the other hand,the display unit 151 is arranged on both the front and rear of themobile terminal 100. Accordingly, when a user photographs himself, aportion of the display unit 151 positioned on the same surface as thecamera 121, that is, the rear face of the display unit 151 may be used.When the user takes a photograph of an object around the user, a portionof the display unit 151 on the side facing away from the camera 121,that is, the front face of the display unit 151 may be used. For thisreason, the mobile terminal 100 may take a photograph of the user or anobject located around the user using one camera 121. The camera mayinclude a plurality of cameras having different angles of view, such aswide angle, ultra wide angle, and telephoto angle. Not only the camerabut also a proximity sensor and an audio output unit may be disposed onthe exposed rear portion 1015, and an antenna 116 may be installed onthe rear portion 1015. An exposed decor 1015 may be used to protect thecamera, the sensor, or the like on the exposed rear portion 1015 and notto deteriorate the exterior design. A portion of the exposed decor 1015corresponding to the camera 121 or the sensor 140 may be configured tobe transparent, and the other portion thereof may have a predeterminedpattern or color in consideration of design aspects without exposinginternal parts.

The first side portion 1013 may extend along the edges of the firstfront portion 1011 and the first rear portion 1012 to surround thecircumference of the first frame 101 and may define the appearance ofthe mobile terminal 100. However, as mentioned above, the second frame102 is accommodated in and movably coupled to the first frame 101, andtherefore a portion of the first frame 101 needs to be open to allowmovement of the second frame 102 relative to the first frame 101. As anexample, as best shown in FIG. 2, the second frame 102 may be movablycoupled to a side of the first frame 101 facing in the first direction,and accordingly the first side portion 1013 may not be formed on thelateral surface facing in the first direction such that the lateralsurface is open. Since the first side portion 1013 is exposed to theoutside of the mobile terminal 100, the interface unit 160 forconnecting a power port or an ear jack or the user input unit 120, suchas a volume control button, may be disposed on the first side portion1013. When the first side portion 1013 contains a metal material, thefirst side portion 1013 may serve as an antenna.

The second frame 102 may include a second front portion 1021 disposed atthe front portion of the mobile terminal 100 and a second rear portion1022 disposed at the rear portion of the mobile terminal 100. Like thefirst front portion 1011 and the first rear portion 1012 of the firstframe 101, the second front portion 1021 and the second rear portion1022 may be formed of plate-shaped members that are generally flat. Inaddition, the second frame 102 also accommodates various components, andmust not interfere with the components accommodated in the first frame101 during the movement. Accordingly, the second front portion 1021 andthe second rear portion 1022 may be coupled to each other in a state ofbeing spaced apart from each other to define a predetermined spacetherebetween, and may have shapes that do not interfere with thecomponents in the first frame 101.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the mobile terminal as viewed from a thirddirection. FIG. 6 shows the first side portion 1013 of the first frame101 and a second side portion 1023 of the second frame 102. Since theflexible display unit 151 is positioned at an end of the second frame102 facing in the first direction, the end of the second frame 102facing in the first direction should not be exposed to the outside. Anend of the second frame 102 facing in the second direction should beopen so as not to interfere with the first frame 101. In the firststate, the second side portion 1023 of the second frame 102, which ispositioned on the side facing in the third direction (which refers tothe upward or downward direction in the drawing or may include both theupward and downward directions), may not be exposed to the outsidebecause it overlaps the first side portion 1013 of the first frame.However, in the second state, it may be exposed to the outside becausethe second frame 102 is drawn out.

In addition, the display unit 151 may be bent 180 degrees while beingrolled in the second frame 102 to be disposed on both the front face andthe rear face of the mobile terminal 100. For such an arrangement of thedisplay unit 151, the second frame 102 may include a roller 210rotatably disposed therein. The roller 210 may be disposed at anyposition inside the second frame 102. However, the display unit 151should be spread flat on the front face and the rear face of the mobileterminal 100 to provide a good quality screen to the user. Further, forsuch spread, a proper tension must be provided on the display unit 151.In order to provide the proper tension, the roller 210 may be disposedat a first directional end of the second frame 102. The roller 210 mayextend in the third direction, and may be rotatably coupled to thesecond frame 102.

The display unit 151 may be rolled around the roller 210 while beinggently bent with a predetermined curvature. The flexible display unit151 may include a first face on which a video is output and exposed tothe outside and an inner face facing the frame at the opposite side. Theroller 210 may be installed to rotate freely in the second frame 102while being in contact with the inner face of the display unit 151.Accordingly, the roller 210 may actually move the display unit 151 in alateral direction of the mobile terminal 100, that is, in a directionperpendicular to a longitudinal direction. As will be described later,when the second frame 102 slides, because of the tension applied by thesecond frame 102, the display unit 151 moves to the front face or therear face of the mobile terminal 100 in different directions (i.e., thefirst direction D1 or the second direction D2) relative to the secondframe 102. The roller 210 may guide such movement while rotating.

The roller 210 may be disposed adjacent to the end of the second frame102 that faces in the first direction. A side frame 1024 may be disposedat the end of the second frame 102 facing in the first direction toprevent damage to the display unit 151 rolled around the roller 210.

The side frame 1024 may extend in the longitudinal direction (the thirddirection) of the second frame 102 to cover the side portion facing inthe first direction, thereby protecting the roller 210 and the displayunit 151 rolled therearound.

Location may be varied according to the state of the mobile terminal.Since a side face is rolled around the roller, the side face is bendwith a predetermined curvature and the inner face of a side frame mayinclude a curved face corresponding to the curvature of the side face.

The side frame 1024 may substantially define the appearance of themobile terminal 100 in cooperation with the first side portion 1013 ofthe first frame 101. In addition, the side portion of the second frame102 that faces in the second direction may be omitted to minimizeinterference with the components arranged in the first frame 101 duringmovement.

During the expansion and the contraction in such first and seconddirections D1 and D2, the second frame 102 may overlap the first frame101, more precisely, the first front portion 1011 and the first rearportion 1012 thereof so as not to interfere with the first frame 101.More specifically, the display unit 151 may be coupled to and supportedby the first front portion 1011 of the first frame 101, as describedabove. Accordingly, the display unit 151 does not need to beadditionally supported by the second front portion 1021 of the secondframe 102. Rather, when the second front portion 1021 is interposedbetween the first front portion 1011 and the display unit 151, thedisplay unit 151 may be deformed or damaged because of friction with thesecond front portion 1021, which is repeatedly moved. Thus, the secondfront portion 1021 may be disposed below the first front portion 1011,or may be interposed between two first front portions 1011. The secondrear portion 1022 of the second frame 102 may be disposed rearward ofthe first rear portion 1012 of the first frame 101. That is, the frontface of the second rear portion 1022 may face the rear face of the firstrear portion 1012. In addition, the rear face of the first rear portion1012 may be in contact with the front face of the second rear portion1022 to stably support the movement of the second frame 102. Because ofsuch arrangement, the second rear portion 1022 may be exposed to theoutside of the first frame, more precisely, of the first rear portion1012, and may be coupled to the display unit 151.

In addition, the second frame 102 may extend and contract in the firstand second directions D1 and D2 to change the size of the mobileterminal 100, particularly, to extend or contract the front face of themobile terminal 100. Thus, the display unit 151 must move by suchextended or reduced front face size to obtain the intended first andsecond states. However, when being fixed to the second frame 102, thedisplay unit 151 may not be moved smoothly to be adapted for the frontface of the mobile terminal 100 that is extended or contracted. For thisreason, the display unit 151 may be movably coupled to the second frame102.

More specifically, the display unit 151 may include a first region 151 adisposed on the front of the mobile terminal 100, a second region 151 bcoupled to a slide frame 103 positioned on the rear of the mobileterminal 100, and a third region 151 c located between the first region151 a and the second region 151 b and bent around the roller 210. Thethird region 151 c may move to the front or the rear according to changein the state of the mobile terminal 100. The slide frame 103 may beformed of a plate-shaped member extending in the longitudinal direction(the third direction) of the mobile terminal 100, and may be coupled tothe second rear portion 1022 so as to be movable in the first and seconddirections D1 and D2.

The first to third regions 151 a, 151 b, and 151 c may be connected toeach other, and may form a continuous body of the display unit 151. Inaddition, as described above, for the movement of the third region 151 ctoward the front face or the rear face of the mobile terminal 100depending on the moving direction of the second frame 102, the firstregion 151 a may be fixed so as not to move to the front face of themobile terminal 100, and the second region 151 b may be provided to bemovable on the rear face of the mobile terminal. Such configuration ofthe display unit 151 will be described in more detail below.

The first region 151 a may be disposed on the front face of the mobileterminal 100, more specifically, the first frame 101, that is, on thefront face of the first front portion 1011. The first region 151 a isfixed to the first frame 101, that is, the front face of the first frontportion 1011 so as not to be moved during the movement of the secondframe 102, and thus, the first region 1511 may always be exposed to thefront face of the mobile terminal 100.

The third region 151 c may be adjacent to the first region 151 a in adirection of the second side edge 151 e, and may extend into the secondframe 102 and rolled on the roller 210. The third region 151 c mayconsecutively extend out of the second frame 102 again and partiallycover the second frame 102, that is, the rear face of the second rearportion 1022. Further, the second frame 102, that is, the second rearportion 1022, is adjacent to the first frame 101, that is, the firstrear portion 1012 and together forms the rear case of the mobileterminal 100, so that it may be described that the third region 151 c isalso disposed on the rear face of the first frame 101.

The second region 151 b may be adjacent to the third region 151 c andmay be disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal 100, morespecifically, on the second frame 102, that is, the rear face of thesecond rear portion 1022 thereof. The second region 151 b may be coupledto the slide frame 103 without being directly coupled to the secondframe 102.

As a result, the first region 151 a may be disposed on the front face ofthe mobile terminal 100 and may be always exposed to the front faceregardless of the movement of the second frame 102, and the secondregion 151 b may be disposed on the rear face of the mobile terminal 100and may be always exposed to the rear face regardless of the movement ofthe second frame 102. In addition, the third region 151 c may bedisposed between the first and second regions 151 a and 151 b, and maybe selectively placed on the front face or the rear face of the mobileterminal 100 depending on the moving directions D1 and D2 of the secondframe 102.

Because of such selective placement of the third region 151 c, as shownin FIG. 4B, the first rear portion 1012 of the first frame 101 may beexposed to the outside of the mobile terminal 100 because the first rearportion 1012 is covered by the second and third regions 151 b and 151 cand the second rear portion 1022 of the display unit 151 in the firststate, but, in the second state, the third region 151 c moves to thefront face of the mobile terminal 100 and the second rear portion 1022also moves in the first direction D1. In addition, the second frontportion 1021 of the second frame 102 is hidden by the first frontportion 1011 of the first frame 101 in the first state, but, in thesecond state, moves out of the first frame 101 to support the thirdregion 151 c of the display unit 151 disposed on the front face of themobile terminal 100.

In order to prevent the second front portion 1021 from affecting theinternal components during the slide movement, a separating plate 1017may be further disposed rearward of the second front portion 1021 andfastened with the first front portion 1011. The second front portion1021 may move between the first front portion 1011 and the separatingplate 1017 based on the slide movement of the second frame.

However, the third region 151 c may be rolled on the roller 210 and bentin the second frame 102. When converting from the first state to thesecond state, the third region 151 c may extend from the second frame102 to the front face of the mobile terminal 100 while being rolled onthe roller 210 in one direction. On the other hand, when converting fromthe second state to the first state, the third region 151 c may beretracted from the front face of the mobile terminal 100 to the secondframe 102 while being rolled on the roller 210 in the oppositedirection, and at the same time, may return to the rear face of themobile terminal 100 from the second frame 102.

A specific location of the foldable mobile terminal in a form of beingspread like a book is easily damaged because only the specific locationis folded repeatedly. On the other hand, the deformed portion of theflexible display unit 151, that is, a portion rolled on the roller 210,may vary based on the first and second states of the mobile terminal100, that is, the movement of the second frame 102. Accordingly, themobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure may significantly reducedeformation and fatigue repeatedly applied to a specific portion of thedisplay unit 151, thereby preventing damage to the display unit 151.

Based on the above-described configuration, overall operations of themobile terminal 100 will be described as follows. As an example, thestate conversion may be performed manually by the user, and an operationof the mobile terminal 100 during such manual state conversion will bedescribed. However, operations of the first to third frames 101 to 103and the display unit 151, which will be described below, may beperformed in the same manner when a power source other than a user'sforce is used, for example, when the driving unit 200 to be describedbelow is applied.

A rear face cover 1025 may be further disposed on a rear face of thesecond rear portion 1022 such that the rear face of the display unitpositioned on the rear face of the mobile terminal 100 is not exposed tothe outside. The rear face of the display unit may be used in the firststate when the rear face cover 1025 uses a transparent material, and therear face of the display unit may be covered such that the movement ofthe slide frame 103 is not exposed when the rear face cover 1025 uses anopaque material. That is, the second region and the third region of theslide frame 103 and the display unit 151 may move in the first directionand in the second direction in a space between the second rear portion1022 and the rear face cover 1025.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a driving unit 200 of the mobile terminal 100in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 7(a) shows the first state andFIG. 7(b) shows the second state. The mobile terminal 100 of the presentdisclosure may be switched between the states in a manner in which auser manually pulls the second frame 102 in the first direction D1 orpushes the same in the second direction D2 with respect to the firstframe 101. However, in the manual method, applying excessive force tothe body of the mobile terminal 100 may damage the mobile terminal 100.Accordingly, a driving unit 200 employing a motor 201 may be furtherprovided to cause the second frame 102 to stably move withoutdistortion.

As the motor 201, a motor 201 configured to provide rotational force asshown in FIG. 7, or a linear motor 201 configured to make linear motionmay be used. The motor 201 configured to provide the rotational forceshould have a large diameter to provide large force. Two motors 201 maybe used as shown in FIG. 7 to provide driving force of a predeterminedmagnitude or more in the limited space of the mobile terminal 100without increasing the thickness.

If the second frame 102 is moved excessively fast, damage or malfunctionmay occur. Accordingly, a planetary gear configured to decrease thespeed of the motor 201 to ensure movement at a stable speed may befurther provided. The planetary gear 202 serves to amplify or attenuatethe number of revolutions of the motor 201 using a plurality of discgears having different numbers of teeth. The motor 201 may be fixed tothe first frame 101 as shown in FIG. 7(a). The position of the motor 201is fixed even when the second frame 102 moves in the first direction toswitch the mobile terminal 100 to the second state, as shown in FIG.7(b).

Since the second frame 102 linearly moves with respect to the firstframe 101 in the first direction or the second direction, rack andpinion gears configured to convert the rotational force of the motor 201into linear motion may be used. A pinion gear to receive the rotationalforce of the motor 201 may be arranged to engage with a rack gear 205composed of teeth continuously arranged in the first direction. Thepinion gear may be fixed to the first frame 101 together with the motor201 and the rack gear 205 may be positioned on the second frame 102.Alternatively, the rack gear 205 may be positioned on the first frame101, and the motor 201 and the pinion gear may be arranged on the secondframe 102. Since the motor 201 holds the pinion gear such that thepinion gear does not rotate, the second frame 102 may maintain the firststate and the second state. However, when large external force isapplied, the second frame 102 may be displaced as the pinion gearrotates.

A stopper (not shown) configured to fix the positions of the secondframe 102 or the rack gear 205 and the first frame 101 may be furtherprovided to fix the mobile terminal 100 in the first state or the secondstate. When electric current flows through the motor 201 to drive themotor 201, the stopper may be released to allow the movement of thesecond frame 102. When power is not applied to the motor 201 and thusthe motor 201 does not rotate, the first frame 101 and the second frame102 may be fastened such that the positions thereof are fixed.

When a pair of driving units 200 is symmetrically disposed in thevertical direction (the third direction), stable movement may be made.However, to arrange a battery or the like, the driving unit 200 shouldbe arranged biased to one side in consideration of the limited mountingspace of the mobile terminal 100 as shown in FIG. 7(a). According tosuch asymmetric arrangement of the driving unit 200, the second frame102 may be distorted during movement due to a difference in movementspeed between the upper end portion and the lower end portion. Toaddress this issue, a linear guide 230 may be further provided.

The linear guide 230 may be disposed at both ends of the mobile terminal100 facing in the third direction, that is, on the upper and lower sidesof the mobile terminal 100, in order to supplement the function of onedriving unit 200 biased to one side in the third direction. The linearguide 230 may include a guide rail 231 extending in the first directionand a guide block 232 configured to move along the guide rail 231. Theguide rail 231 may be disposed on the first frame 101 and the guideblock 232 may be disposed on the second frame 102, or vice versa. Inthis embodiment, the guide rail 231 may be disposed on the second frame102 to cover the upper and lower sides of the extended portion of thesecond frame 102 in the second state.

After the guide block 232 is coupled to the first frame 101 and theguide rail 231 is coupled to the second frame 102, the guide block 232and the guide rail 231 may be slidably fastened to each other. However,for convenience of the fastening, the guide block 232 and the guide rail231 fastened to each other. Then, the guide block 232 may be first fixedto the first frame 101, and then the second frame 102 may be coupled tothe guide rail 231.

The guide block 232 may be provided with a guide groove into which theguide rail 231 is inserted. Alternatively, the guide rail 231 may beprovided with a rail groove into which a portion of the guide block 232is inserted. The fastening portions of the guide rail 231 and the guideblock 232 may be formed to be bumpy. Accordingly, movement in the firstdirection or the second direction may be made without displacement inthe thickness direction of the mobile terminal 100. In order to reducefriction between the guide block 232 and the guide rail 231, aself-lubricating member having high wear resistance and low frictionresistance, such as a bearing or polyoxymethylene (POM), may be added tothe inside of the guide groove.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A and B-B in FIG.2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the second frame 102 switches to thesecond state by moving in the first direction, the third region 151 cpositioned on the rear side moves to the front, and thus a structure tosupport the rear surface of the third region 151 c moved to the front isrequired. The second front portion 1021 positioned on the front surfaceof the second frame 102 may be positioned on the rear surface of thethird region 151 c in the second state. However, in the first state, thesecond front portion 1021 is disposed to overlap the first front portion1011 of the first frame 101, and accordingly the first front portion1011 and the second front portion 1021 form a step. A boundary is formedbetween the first region 151 a and the third region 151 c of theflexible display unit 151 by the step formed by the first front portion1011 and the second front portion 1021. A rolling plate 104 may be usedas a support structure to fill the gap between the second front portion1021 and the third region 151 c of the flexible display unit 151.

The rolling plate 104 may be positioned on the rear surface of theflexible display unit 151, and have a thickness corresponding to the gapbetween the second front portion 1021 and the flexible display unit 151in the second state. As shown in FIG. 8(a), in the first state, therolling plate 104 is rolled around the roller 210 and is positioned onthe lateral side and rear side of the mobile terminal 100. The flexibledisplay unit 151 and the rolling plate 104 may be positioned between thesecond rear portion of the second frame 102 and a rear cover 1025provided to cover the rear face of the display unit 151. As shown inFIG. 8(b), when switch to the second state occurs, the rolling plate 104may move to the front and the rolling plate 104 may be positioned on thefront portion of the second frame 102.

The third region 151 c of the display unit 151 in which the rollingplate 104 is positioned is a portion where bending deformation occurswhen switch from the first state to the second state occurs.Accordingly, the rolling plate 104 may be deformed according todeformation of the third region 151 c. Here, the rolling plate 104 isrequired to have a predetermined stiffness to maintain the flat statewhen the flexible display unit 151 is positioned on the front or rear ofthe mobile terminal. That is, the rolling plate 104 needs a structurecapable of maintaining the flat state in the third direction andperforming bending deformation in the first direction.

Hereinafter, embodiments related with a control method that may beimplemented in the mobile terminal configured as described above will bedescribed with reference to the attached drawings. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that the present disclosure may be carried out inother specific ways than those set forth herein without departing fromthe spirit and essential characteristics of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating constituent modules of a mobileterminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The blockdiagram of FIG. 9 is for better explanation of an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, and the mobile terminal, which will be describedbelow, may be implemented as the mobile terminal illustrated in FIGS. 1to 8.

Referring to FIG. 9, a mobile terminal 900 according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure may include a body 910, a display 920, an inputunit 930, and a controller 940.

The body 910 is hardware constituting the mobile terminal 900 and mayinclude a first frame and a second frame.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second frame may beextendable or contractible from the first frame. Here, the first frameand the second frame may be implemented as the first frame and thesecond frame described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. That is, thesecond frame may be extended or contracted from the first frame manuallyor automatically by the above-described structure.

The mobile terminal 900 may further include a driving unit (notillustrated) for causing the second frame to be extended or contracted.Here, the driving unit may be implemented as the driving unit 200 ofFIG. 7.

The mobile terminal 900 may operate in an enlarged display mode as thesecond frame is extended, and may operate in a reduced display mode asthe second frame is contracted. The enlarged display mode and thereduced display mode may correspond to the first state and the secondstate, respectively, described in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The display 920 may be coupled to the body 910 so that a display regionviewed from the front of the body 910 may vary as the display 920switches between the enlarged display mode and the reduced display mode.That is, the display 920 may surround the front, side, and rear faces ofthe body 910. The display 920 may be implemented as the flexible displayunit 151 of FIG. 1.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the second frame isextended, a display portion positioned on the side of the body 910 maymove to the front of the body 910, and a display portion positioned onthe rear of the body 910 may move to the front of the body 910 via theside of the body 910.

As the second frame is contracted, the display portion positioned on thefront of the body 910 may move to the side of the body 910 or to therear of the body 910 via the side of the body 910.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a state in which the secondframe is not extended, i.e., a state in which the mobile terminal 900 isin the reduced display mode, may be defined as a default state.

The display 920 may display visual information. The visual informationmay include text, indicators, icons, content, applications, images, andvideos. The display 920 may output visual information on a screen basedon a control command of the controller 940.

The display 920 may split a region in an enlarged display mode. Morespecifically, the display may output different pieces of information insplit regions. For example, the display 920 may output a firstapplication in a first region and a second application in a secondregion.

The display 920 may output a visual effect. More specifically, thedisplay 920 may assign an effect to output visual information ratherthan simply outputting visual information. For example, the display 920may perform black and white processing, blur processing, or dimmingprocess upon output applications.

Although the display 920 may have an inter-layered structure or anintegrated structure with a touch sensor as illustrated with referenceto FIG. 1, so that the display 920 may be implemented with a touchscreen, an output function and a touch function may be individuallycontrolled. This will be described hereinbelow with reference to thedrawings.

The input unit 930 may receive various inputs for the mobile terminal900 from the user and transmit an input result so that the controller940 may perform operations corresponding to the received inputs. Forexample, the input unit 930 may receive an input signal of touching afirst region from a user and transfer an input result to the controller940 so that the controller 940 may determine that the user has selectedthe first region.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the input unit 930 may beprovided on the display 920 and may be implemented as a touch screen.Although the input unit 930 may be included in the display 920, a touchfunction may be controlled separately from an output function of thedisplay 920. The input unit 930 may be implemented as the input unit 120of FIG. 1.

The input unit 930 may detect touch input from the user. In this case,the input unit 930 may detect a point at which the touch input isdetected, a touched region, touched pressure, etc.

The input unit 930 may receive an input signal of simply touching anicon or an image from the user. Alternatively, the input unit 930 mayreceive a touch drag input signal of touching an icon or an image andthen dragging the icon or image up to another position.

The controller 940 may process data, control the units of the mobileterminal 900 described above, and control data transmission/receptionbetween the units. In the present disclosure, the controller 940 may beimplemented as the controller 180 of FIG. 1.

The operations performed by the mobile terminal 900 may be controlled bythe controller 940. However, in the drawings and the followingdescription, these operations will be collectively described, forconvenience, as being performed/controlled by the mobile terminal 900.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 10 to 16. In describing and understanding theembodiments of the present disclosure, reference may be made to theabove description given with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

The mobile terminal may output a plurality of applications on thedisplay in an enlarged display mode. This is because the user is notinconvenienced even when multiple applications are simultaneously outputon the display as the display is extended.

However, upon switching to a reduced display mode from the enlargeddisplay mode in which multiple applications are output, the mobileterminal needs to determine which application is to be output in thereduced display mode.

For example, when a first application, a second application, and a thirdapplication are being output in the enlarged display mode, the mobileterminal may output only the first application and stop displaying thesecond application and the third application in the reduced display modeupon receiving a signal for switching from the enlarged display mode tothe reduced display mode. Even when the mobile terminal switches to thereduced display mode, two applications rather than one application maybe maintained in an output state.

In this case, the mobile terminal may determine applications to beoutput in the reduced display mode based on a preset criterion orreceive applications to be output in the reduced display mode from theuser.

Hereinafter, various embodiments for switching from the enlarged displaymode to the reduced display mode will be described with reference to thedrawings.

FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate embodiments for determining applications tobe output in a reduced display mode by outputting an editing screen whena mobile terminal switches from an enlarged display mode to the reduceddisplay mode.

FIG. 10a is a diagram illustrating switching from an enlarged displaymode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

The mobile terminal may output at least one application on the displayin the enlarged display mode. Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 10a, the mobile terminal may output a first application 1001, a secondapplication 1002, and a third application 1003 in the enlarged displaymode.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 10a , the mobile terminal mayoutput an editing screen 1010 upon receiving a signal for switching fromthe enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode.

The mobile terminal may receive an input signal corresponding to aphysical button included therein as the signal for switching from theenlarged display mode to the reduced display mode. For example, when themobile terminal includes a physical button for switching between theenlarged display mode and the reduced display mode, the mobile terminalmay receive a signal when the button is pressed.

The mobile terminal may receive a virtual button output on the displayas the input signal. For example, the mobile terminal may output aswitching button for switching between the enlarged display mode and thereduced display mode on the display and receive a signal when theswitching button is input.

The mobile terminal may switch from the enlarged display mode to thereduced display mode upon occurrence of an event rather than an inputsignal for an additional button or upon execution or end of a specificapplication. This will be described in detail later.

Upon receiving a signal for switching from the enlarged display mode tothe reduced display mode, the mobile terminal may output the editingscreen 1010. The editing screen 1010 may correspond to a screen fordetermining which application is to be output in the reduced displaymode among applications which are being output in the enlarged displaymode.

More specifically, the mobile terminal may control output of a layouticon 1020 and output of a thumbnail image of at least one applicationwhich is being output in the enlarged display mode, on the editingscreen 1010.

The layout icon 1020 may indicate layouts of applications output in thereduced display mode. For example, layouts of applications which may beoutput in the reduced display mode may include a first layout and asecond layout. The first layout may correspond to a layout foroutputting one application and the second layout may correspond to alayout for outputting two applications upward and downward.

The thumbnail image may correspond to an image corresponding to an imagecorresponding to an application which is being output in the enlargeddisplay mode. The thumbnail image may also correspond to a capture imageof an application which is being output.

For example, when a first application 1001, a second application 1002,and a third application 1003 have been output in the enlarged displaymode, the mobile terminal may output a first thumbnail image 1031corresponding to the first application 1001, a second thumbnail image1032 corresponding to the second application 1002, and a third thumbnailimage 1033 corresponding to the third application 1003 in the editingscreen 1010.

The mobile terminal may blur a background region except for the layouticon 1020, the first thumbnail image 1031, the second thumbnail image1032, and the third thumbnail image 1033 output on the editing screen1010, thereby solving an awkward situation of reducing the screen anddifficulty in performing rendering processing using software. Here,blurring the background region is purely exemplary and various visualeffects may be assigned to the background region so that renderingprocessing may be easily performed when the mobile terminal switchesfrom the enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode.

Referring to the third drawing of FIG. 10a , the mobile terminal maycontrol switching to the reduced display mode based on an input signalfor selecting the layout icon 1020 and a thumbnail image. In this case,the mobile terminal may control switching to the reduced display modebased on a result of an editing screen.

More specifically, the mobile terminal may switch to the reduced displaymode based on an input signal for selecting a first layout icon and afirst thumbnail image 1031. For example, the user may sequentially touchthe first layout icon and the first thumbnail image 1031 which are beingoutput in the editing screen 1010.

Upon receiving an input signal of touching the first layout icon and thefirst thumbnail image 1031 by the user, the mobile terminal may switchto the reduced display mode and output the first application 1001corresponding to the first thumbnail image 1031 on a contracted display.The first layout icon may correspond to a layout for outputting oneapplication in the reduced display mode.

FIG. 10b is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of switching froman enlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment ofFIG. 10b may refer to the embodiment of FIG. 10 a.

Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 10b , the mobile terminal mayoutput a first application 1001, a second application 1002, and a thirdapplication 1003 in the enlarged display mode, in the same manner as inthe first drawing of FIG. 10 a.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 10b , the mobile terminal mayoutput an editing screen 1010 upon receiving a signal for switching fromthe enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode.

More specifically, the mobile terminal may control output of a layouticon 1020 and output of a thumbnail image of at least one applicationwhich is being output in the enlarged display mode, on the editingscreen 1010.

The mobile terminal may switch to the reduced display mode based on aninput signal for selecting a second layout icon, a second thumbnailimage 1032, and a third thumbnail image 1033. For example, the user maytouch the second layout icon, the second thumbnail image 1032, and thirdthumbnail image 1033 in any order.

The second layout icon may correspond to a layout for outputting twoapplications in the reduced display mode. Generally, since the reduceddisplay mode corresponds to a mode (portrait mode) in which a verticallength is longer than a horizontal length, the second layout icon maycorrespond to a layout for arranging two applications upward anddownward.

Referring to the third drawing of FIG. 10b , the mobile terminal mayswitch to the reduced display mode based on an input signal forselecting the second layout icon, the second thumbnail image 1032, andthe third thumbnail image 1033 and output a second application 1002corresponding to the second thumbnail image 1032 and a third application1003 corresponding to the third thumbnail image 1033 on the contracteddisplay.

FIGS. 11a and 11b illustrate embodiments of outputting editing screensdifferent from the editing screens of FIGS. 10a and 10b when a mobileterminal switches from the enlarged display mode to the reduced displaymode. Similarly, the embodiments of FIGS. 11a and FIG. 11b may refer tothe embodiments of FIGS. 10a and 10 b.

FIG. 11a is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of switching froman enlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 11a , the mobile terminal mayoutput a first application 1101, a second application 1102, and a thirdapplication 1103 in the enlarged display mode.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 11a , the mobile terminal mayoutput an editing screen 1110 upon receiving a signal for switching fromthe enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode.

The editing screen 1110 may correspond to a screen for determining whichapplication is to be output in the reduced display mode among theapplications which are being output in the enlarged display mode.

More specifically, the mobile terminal may control output of thumbnailimages 1131, 1132, and 1133 of one or more applications 1101, 1102, and1103 which are being output on the editing screen 1110 in the enlargeddisplay mode and output of a preview image indicator 1120 of anapplication to be output in the reduced display mode. The preview imageindicator 1120 may correspond to an indicator 1120 for previewing anapplication to be output in the reduced display mode.

The mobile terminal may add a selected thumbnail image to the previewimage indicator 1120 based on an input signal for selecting thethumbnail images 1131, 1132, and 1133 and control switching to thereduced display mode based on the preview image 1120.

More specifically, upon receiving a first input signal 1141 of touchingand dragging the first thumbnail image 1131 corresponding to the firstapplication 1101 and releasing touch within the preview image indicator1120, the mobile terminal may output the first thumbnail image 1131within the preview image indicator 1120.

That is, the mobile terminal may determine the first input signal oftouching and dragging the first thumbnail image 1131 and dropping thefirst thumbnail image 1131 on the preview image indicator 1120 as userintention to output the first application 1101 corresponding to thefirst thumbnail image 1131 in the reduced display mode.

Accordingly, the mobile terminal may output the first thumbnail image1131 in the preview image indicator 1120 based on the first input signal1141 and switch to the reduced display mode based on a second inputsignal for selecting an end icon 1150.

Referring to the third drawing of FIG. 11a , the mobile terminal maycontrol switching from the enlarged display mode to the reduced displaymode upon receiving the second input signal 1142 and output the firstapplication 1101 corresponding to the first thumbnail image 1131 on thecontracted display.

In other words, unlike FIGS. 10a and 10b , an application to be outputin the reduced display mode may be determined by inserting a thumbnailimage into a preview image indicator, instead of selecting a layouticon. Hereinafter, an embodiment of inserting two thumbnail images intothe preview image indicator unlike the embodiment of FIG. 11a will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 11 b.

FIG. 11b is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of switching froman enlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment ofFIG. 11b may refer to the embodiment of FIG. 11 a.

Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 11b , the mobile terminal mayoutput a first application 1101, a second application 1102, and a thirdapplication 1103 in the enlarged display mode.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 11b , the mobile terminal mayoutput an editing screen 1110 upon receiving a signal for switching fromthe enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode.

The editing screen 1110 may corresponding to a screen for determiningwhich application is to be output in the reduced display mode amongapplications which are being output in the enlarged display mode.

More specifically, the mobile terminal may control output of thumbnailimages 1131, 1132, and 1133 of one or more applications 1101, 1102, and1103 which are being output on the editing screen 1110 in the enlargeddisplay mode and output of a preview image indicator 1120 of anapplication to be output in the reduced display mode.

The mobile terminal may add a selected thumbnail image to the previewimage indicator 1120 based on an input signal for selecting the secondthumbnail image 1132 and the third thumbnail image 1133.

More specifically, upon receiving a first input signal 1141 of touchingand dragging the second thumbnail image 1132 and releasing touch withinthe preview image indicator 1120, the mobile terminal may output thesecond thumbnail image 1132 within the preview image indicator 1120.

In addition, upon receiving a second input signal 1142 of touching anddragging the third thumbnail image 1133 and releasing touch within thepreview image indicator 1120 in a state in which the second thumbnailimage 1132 is output in the preview image indicator 1120, the mobileterminal may output the third thumbnail image 1133 together with thesecond thumbnail image 1132 within the preview image indicator 1120.

In this case, the mobile terminal may determine order of thumbnailimages output within the preview image indicator 1120 based on order ofthe first input signal 1141 and the second input signal 1142. Forexample, the mobile terminal may output the second thumbnail image 1132based on the first input signal 1141 in an upper region of the previewimage indicator 1120 and output the third thumbnail image 1133 based onthe second input signal 1142 on a lower region of the preview imageindicator 1120.

The mobile terminal may output only the second thumbnail image 1132 inthe preview image indicator 1120 in the same manner as in FIG. 11a untilthe second input signal 1142 is received.

Next, the mobile terminal may output the second thumbnail image 1132 andthe third thumbnail image 1133 in the preview image indicator 1220 basedon the first input signal 1141 and the second input signal 1142 andswitch to the reduced display mode based on a third input signal 1143 ofselecting an end icon 1150.

Referring to the third drawing of FIG. 11b , the mobile terminal maycontrol switching from the enlarged display mode to the reduced displaymode upon receiving the third input signal 1143 and output the secondapplication 1102 corresponding to the second thumbnail image 1132 andthe third application 1103 corresponding to the third thumbnail image1133 in the reduced mode.

That is, when the mobile terminal switches from the enlarged displaymode to the reduced display mode, the user may determine whichapplications will be continuously executed through the embodiments ofFIGS. 10a, 10b, 11a , and 11 b.

The editing screen output in a process of switching from the enlargeddisplay mode to the reduced display mode as illustrated in FIGS. 10a,10b, 11a, and 11b may be or may not be set as a default value by theuser.

For example, when the user sets output of the editing screen as thedefault value, the mobile terminal may output the editing screen uponreceiving a signal for switching from the enlarged display mode to thereduced display mode and finally switch to the reduced display modebased on a result of the editing screen.

In contrast, when the user does not set output of the editing screen asthe default value, the mobile terminal may not output the editing screenupon receiving the signal for switching from the enlarged display modeto the reduced display mode and may output, in the reduced mode, anapplication which is currently focused in the enlarged display mode.This will be described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of switching from anenlarged display mode to a reduced display mode after an event is endedin a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 12, the mobile terminal mayoutput a first application 1201 and a second application 1202 in anenlarged display mode. The second application 1202 may correspond to anapplication which is executed by occurrence of an event.

More specifically, the mobile terminal may switch to the enlargeddisplay mode by occurrence of the event, in a state in which the firstapplication 1201 is being output in the reduced display mode, and outputthe second application 1202.

For example, the first application 1201 may correspond to a video playapplication and the second application 1202 may correspond to a phonecall application. In this case, when an incoming call event occurs whilethe video play application is being executed in the reduced displaymode, the mobile terminal may switch to the enlarged display mode andexecute the phone call application in a second region 1212.

The second region 1212 may correspond to a region near to a portion fromor to which the display of the mobile terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure is contracted or extended. Themobile terminal may include the second frame which is movable and thedisplay may be extended or contracted by moving the second frame.

Therefore, when the mobile terminal includes two regions in which twoapplications may be output in the enlarged display mode, the secondregion 1212 may be a region which is relatively near to the secondframe.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 12, when the event of the secondapplication 1202 is ended, the mobile terminal may control switchingfrom the enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode. For example,end of the event in the above-described example may correspond to end ofthe phone call.

More specifically, since the second application 1202 corresponds to anapplication output by occurrence of the event, the mobile terminal mayend output of the second application 1202 when the event is ended.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the second application1202 is located in the second region 1212 which may be contracted, themobile terminal may switch to the reduced display mode to contract thedisplay so that the mobile terminal may naturally end output of thesecond application 1202.

Referring to the third drawing of FIG. 12, the mobile terminal mayswitch to the reduced display mode to end output of the secondapplication 1202 and output only the first application 1201 on thecontracted display.

Accordingly, the display is automatically extended by occurrence of theevent. After the second application 1202 is executed, if the event isended, the display is automatically contracted and output of the secondapplication 1202 may be ended.

That is, when the mobile terminal switches from the enlarged displaymode to the reduced display mode, if an ended application has beendetermined (for example, when an application is executed by occurrenceof an event and the display is extended), the application may benaturally ended while the display is contracted.

FIGS. 13a to 13c illustrate embodiments when an application intended tobe continuously output is located in a region near to a contracteddisplay. Hereinbelow, the embodiments of FIGS. 13a to 13c may refer tothe embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13a is a diagram illustrating a problem when an application islocated at a portion from which the display is contracted.

Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 13a , the mobile terminal mayoutput a first application 1301 and a second application 1302 in theenlarged display mode. The second application 1302 may correspond to anapplication executed by occurrence of an event.

In this case, the second application 1302 executed by occurrence of theevent may be located in a second region 1312 and the first application1301 which has been output may be located in a first region 1311.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13a , the first region 1311 may correspond toa region near to a portion from or to which the display of the mobileterminal is contracted or extended unlike the embodiment of FIG. 12.That is, the first region 1311 may correspond to a region which isrelatively near to the second frame.

Since the user may freely grip the mobile terminal in a desireddirection, the first application 1301 that the user intends to becontinuously used may be located in a region which is relatively near tothe second frame unlike the embodiment of FIG. 12. As the event isended, the second application 1302 which is end may be located in aregion which is far separated from the second frame.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 13a , if the event that hasoccurred is ended and the mobile terminal switches from the enlargeddisplay mode to the reduced display mode, the size (area) of the firstregion 1311 in which the first application 1301 is output is graduallyreduced and the mobile terminal terminates output of the firstapplication 1301. Alternatively, even when output of the firstapplication 1301 is not ended, the area of the front of the display onwhich the first application 1301 is output is reduced and the firstapplication 1301 is output on the back of the display.

In other words, although an application executed by occurrence of theevent is the second application 1302 and an application that the userintends to be continuously output is the first application 1301, since aregion in which the first application 1301 is first output is a regionnear to the second frame, output of the first application 1301 may beended on the front of the display in a process of switching to thereduced display mode.

FIGS. 13b and 13c propose embodiments for solving such a problem.

FIG. 13b is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of changing origincoordinates of an application in a mobile terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

The embodiment of the first drawing of FIG. 13b is equal to theembodiment of the first drawing of FIG. 13a . Referring to the firstdrawing of FIG. 13b , the mobile terminal may output a first application1301 and a second application 1302 in an enlarged display mode. Thesecond application 1302 may correspond to an application executed byoccurrence of an event. The first application 1301 may be output in afirst region which is relatively near to the second frame and the secondapplication 1302 may be output in a second region 1312 which isrelatively far from the second frame.

When the mobile terminal switches from the enlarged display mode to thereduced display mode, since the size of the display viewed from thefront is reduced by moving the second frame, the first application 1301output in the first region 1311 which is located near to the secondframe is output on the back of the display.

To prevent this situation, when the mobile terminal switches from theenlarged display mode to the reduced display mode upon ending an eventwhich has occurred, the mobile terminal may change origin coordinates ofapplication drawings of the first application 1301 and the secondapplication 1302.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 13b , when the mobile terminalswitches from the enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode uponending the event that has occurred, the mobile terminal may shift origincoordinates of application drawings of the first application 1301 andthe second application 1302 to the right in order to maintain output ofthe first application 1301.

In other words, upon outputting an application on the display, themobile terminal needs to set origin coordinates for determining anoutput location of the application. In an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the mobile terminal may shift origin coordinates ofapplication drawings of the first application 1301 and the secondapplication 1302 to the right so that output locations of theapplications may be shifted in entirety to the right.

The mobile terminal may shift the origin coordinates of the applicationdrawings of the first application 1301 and the second application 1302to the right based on speed at which the display is reduced.

Then, the area of the physical display viewed from the front in aprocess in which the front display is contracted is reduced and themobile terminal may control reduction of a part of the secondapplication 1302 output on the front display while output of the firstapplication 1301 is maintained.

Referring to the third drawing of FIG. 13b , the mobile terminal mayoutput only the first application 1301 in the reduced display mode. Morespecifically, the mobile terminal may maintain a state in which only thefirst application 1301 is naturally output after the display iscontracted upon changing origin coordinates of the application drawingsof the first application 1301 and the second application 1302.

After switching to the reduced display mode, the mobile terminal mayterminate output or execution of the second application 1302. Therefore,the mobile terminal need not perform an additional rendering procedurein a process in which the mobile terminal switches to the reduceddisplay mode and the second application 1302 may have an effect ofreducing an output region by movement of the mechanical second frame.

FIG. 13c is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of changing thelocations of applications in a mobile terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

The embodiment of the first drawing of FIG. 13c is equal to theembodiment of the first drawing of FIG. 13b . Referring to the firstdrawing of FIG. 13c , the mobile terminal may output a first application1301 and a second application 1302 in the enlarged display mode. Thesecond application 1302 may correspond to an application executed byoccurrence of an event. The first application 1301 may be output in afirst region 1311 which is relatively near to the second frame and thesecond application 1302 may be output in a second region 1312.

When the mobile terminal switches from the enlarged display mode to thereduced display mode upon ending the event which has occurred, themobile terminal may change the output locations of the first application1301 and the second application 1302.

More specifically, upon switching from the enlarged display mode to thereduced display mode based on end of the event which has occurred, themobile terminal may interchange an output location of the firstapplication 1301 and an output location of the second application 1302with each other in order to maintain output of the first application1301.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 13c , upon receiving a signalfor switching to the reduced display mode in a state in which the firstapplication 1301 is output in the first region 1311 and the secondapplication 1302 is output in the second region 1312, the mobileterminal may output the second application 1302 in the first region 1311and the first application 1301 in the second region 1312.

That is, the mobile terminal may output the first application 1301 thatthe user intends to continuously output in the second region 1312 whichis relatively far separated from the second frame. In addition, themobile terminal may output the second application 1302 to be terminatedby end of the event which has occurred in the first region 1 311 whichis relatively near to the second frame.

Referring to the third drawing of FIG. 13c , the mobile terminal mayswitch from the enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode in astate in which the first application 1301 is output in the second region1312 and the second application 1302 is output in the first region 1311.In this case, the mobile terminal may mechanically reduce the size ofthe second application 1302 viewed from the front display in a processof switching to the reduced display mode.

After switching to the reduced display mode, the mobile terminal mayoutput only the first application 1301 on the contracted display.Accordingly, the mobile terminal may terminate output or execution ofthe second application 1320 after switching to the reduced display mode.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of maintaining output ofa preset application in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Hereinbelow, the embodiments of FIGS. 12, 13 b,and 13 c may be applied to the embodiment of FIG. 14.

Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 14, the mobile terminal mayoutput a first application 1401 and a second application 1402 in theenlarged display mode. The first application 1401 may correspond to thepreset application.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, whether an application isthe preset application may be determined in consideration of at leastone of configuration or non-configuration of an application by the user,a main screen ratio of an application, focusing or non-focusing of anapplication in the enlarged display mode, or the number of frequenciesof an application used alone in the reduced display mode.

Referring to the second and third drawings of FIG. 14, upon receiving asignal for switching from the enlarged display mode to the reduceddisplay mode, the mobile terminal may control output of the presetapplication in the contracted display.

If the first application 1401 corresponds to the preset application, themobile terminal may control output of the first application 1401 in thereduced display mode and control end of output of the second application1402. The above-described embodiments of FIGS. 12, 13 b, and 13 c may beapplied to a method for the mobile terminal to output the firstapplication 1401 in the reduced display mode.

More specifically, the mobile terminal may be configured with the presetapplication configured by the UE. For example, the user may configurethe first application 1401 as an application which is first output inthe reduced display mode. Then, upon receiving a signal for switching tothe reduced display mode in a state in which the first application 1401and the second application 1402 are output, the mobile terminal mayoutput only the first application 1401 on the contracted display.

The mobile terminal may determine whether an application is the presetapplication in consideration of the main screen ratio. For example, whenthe main screen ratio of the first application 1401 is equal to thescreen ratio of the contracted display, the mobile terminal maydetermine that the first application 1401 is the preset application.

The mobile terminal may determine whether an application is the presetapplication in consideration of whether an application is a recentlyfocused application in the enlarged display mode. For example, if theuser has lastly touched the first application 1401 in the enlargeddisplay mode, the mobile terminal may determine that the firstapplication 1401 as the recently focused application. Then, the mobileterminal may configure the first application 1401 as the presetapplication.

The mobile terminal may determine that an application is the presetapplication based on the number of frequencies used alone in the reduceddisplay mode. For example, the mobile terminal may compare the number offrequencies of the first application 1401 used on the contracted displaywith the number of frequencies of the second application 1402 used onthe contracted display. If the first application 1401 is more frequentlyused than the second application 1402 in the reduced display mode, themobile terminal may configure the first application 1401 as the presetapplication.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of changing a screensize of an application in a mobile terminal according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

Referring to the first drawing of FIG. 15, the mobile terminal mayoutput a first application 1501, a second application 1502, and a thirdapplication 1503 in the enlarged display mode. In this case, the secondapplication 1502 may correspond to a recently focused application. Themobile terminal may receive a signal for switching from the enlargeddisplay mode to the reduced display mode.

Referring to the second drawing of FIG. 15, upon switching to thereduced display mode, the mobile terminal may control change of a screensize of the second application 1502 based on the reduced display mode.

More specifically, upon determining that the second application 1502 isthe preset application, the mobile terminal may control change of thesize of the second application 1502 based on the size of the display inthe reduced display mode.

The mobile terminal may output the second application 1502 in a firstregion 1511 which is the upper right of a front display of the mobileterminal in the enlarged display mode. The size of the first region 1511may correspond to ¼ of the entire region of the front display in theenlarged display mode. Upon receiving a signal for switching to thereduced display mode, the mobile terminal may output the secondapplication 1502 in a second region 1512. The size of the second region1512 may correspond to the entire region of the front display of acontracted display as illustrated in the third drawing of FIG. 15.

Particularly, the mobile terminal may change the size of the secondapplication 1502 while gradually enlarging the size of the secondapplication 1502 from the first region 1511 to the second region 1512.The mobile terminal may determine speed of enlarging the secondapplication 1502 from the first region 1511 to the second region 1512based on speed of switching from the enlarged display mode to thereduced display mode. For example, a time consumed when the mobileterminal switches from the enlarged display mode to the reduced displaymode is t, the mobile terminal may enlarge the size of the secondapplication 1502) for a time oft from the first region 1511 to thesecond region 1512.

Upon controlling switching to the reduced display mode, the mobileterminal may control output of a visual effect to applications otherthan the second application 1502.

More specifically, while the second application 1502 is enlarged fromthe first region 1511 to the second region 1512, the mobile terminal mayoutput the visual effect to the first application 1501 and the thirdapplication 1502 corresponding to the other applications. In this case,an applicable visual effect may be blur processing. Therefore, themobile terminal may apply a blur effect to the other applications whilethe second application 1502 is enlarged to be output in the reduceddisplay mode.

In addition, the mobile terminal may disable a touch function for theother applications while the second application 1502 is enlarged to beoutput in the reduced display mode.

Then, the mobile terminal may not perform other rendering processingwith respect to the applications other than the second application 1502.The mobile terminal may prevent touch malfunction for the applicationsother than the second application 1502.

While the drawings have been separately described for convenience ofdescription, it is also possible to design new embodiments to beimplemented by integrating the embodiments described in respectivedrawings.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of switching from anenlarged display mode to a reduced display mode in a mobile terminalaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Each step of FIG.16 described hereinbelow may be controlled by the controller of FIG. 1.

The mobile terminal for performing a control method of FIG. 16 includesa display coupled to a body so that a display region viewed from thefront of the body varies according to switching between the enlargeddisplay mode and the reduced display mode.

In step S1610, the mobile terminal may output at least one applicationon the display in the enlarged display mode. The mobile terminal mayoutput two or three applications in the enlarged display mode. One ofthe two or three applications output in the enlarged display mode maycorrespond to an application executed by occurrence of an event.

One application of one or more applications output in the enlargeddisplay mode may correspond to a preset application. In an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the mobile terminal may determine whether anapplication is the preset application in consideration of at least oneof configuration or non-configuration of an application by the user, amain screen ratio of an application, focusing or non-focusing of anapplication in the enlarged display mode, or the number of frequenciesused alone in the reduced display mode.

In step S1620, the mobile terminal may output an editing screen uponreceiving a signal for switching to the reduced display mode. The mobileterminal may output a layout icon and at least one application thumbnailimage which is being output in the enlarged display mode, on the editingscreen. The mobile terminal may control output of a visual effect to abackground region except for the layout icon and the thumbnail imageoutput on the editing screen.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile terminal mayoutput a thumbnail image of at least one application which is beingoutput in the enlarged display mode and a preview image of anapplication to be output in the reduced display mode, on the editingscreen. The mobile terminal may output a selected thumbnail image in thepreview image based on an input signal for selecting the thumbnailimage.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, when an event that hasoccurred is ended, it may be determined that the mobile terminal hasreceived a signal for switching to the reduced display mode. That is,when an even that has occurred is ended, it may be determined that themobile terminal has received the signal for switching to the reduceddisplay mode so that the mobile terminal may output the editing screen.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile terminal maycontrol change of a screen size of the preset application based on thereduced display mode in a process of switching to the reduced displaymode. In this case, the mobile terminal may control output of a visualeffect to applications other than the preset application.

In step S1630, the mobile terminal may control switching to the reduceddisplay mode based on a result of the editing screen. The mobileterminal may switch to the reduced display mode based on an input signalfor selecting a layout icon and a thumbnail image on the editing screen.

Upon receiving an input signal for selecting a first layout icon and afirst thumbnail image on the editing screen, the mobile terminal maycontrol output of an application corresponding to the first thumbnailimage on the contracted display. The first layout icon may correspond toa layout for outputting one application in the reduced display mode.

Upon receiving an input signal for selecting a second layout icon, asecond thumbnail image, and a third thumbnail image on the editionscreen, the mobile terminal may control output of a second applicationcorresponding to the second thumbnail image and a third applicationcorresponding to the third thumbnail image on the contracted display. Inthis case, the second layout icon may correspond to a layout foroutputting two applications in the reduced display mode.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the mobile terminal maychange origin coordinates of the first application and the secondapplication output on the editing screen. The mobile terminal maycontrol change of output locations of the first application and thesecond application output on the editing screen.

The embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15 may beperformed as the control method of the mobile terminal as illustrated inFIG. 16.

Effects of the mobile terminal according to the present disclosure andthe control method therefor are as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure,when a display is contracted from an enlarged display mode, an intuitiveuser experience (UX) for directly selecting an application to beexecuted may be provided.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure,when a display is contracted from an enlarged display mode, a layout ofapplications may be naturally changed.

The above-described present disclosure may be implemented ascomputer-readable code on a computer-readable medium in which a programis recorded. The computer-readable medium may be any type of recordingdevice in which data that may be read by a computer system is stored.Examples of the computer-readable medium include a hard disk drive(HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a silicon disk drive (SDD), a readonly memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a compact disc(CD)-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage, and acarrier wave (e.g., data transmission over the Internet). The computermay include the controller 180 of the terminal. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various modifications and variations maybe made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit orscope of the disclosure. The above detailed description is therefore tobe construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. Thescope of the present disclosure should be determined by reasonableinterpretation of the appended claims and all changes coming within theequivalency range of the present disclosure are intended to be includedin the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure is industrially applicable to a mobile terminaland is repeatedly applicable.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal comprising: a body including afirst frame and a second frame extendable or contractible from the firstframe, wherein the second frame is configured to include a transparentrear face cover; an input unit configured to sense a user input; adisplay coupled to the body, wherein the display includes a flexibledisplay surrounding a front, a side, and a rear of the body, wherein adisplay region viewable from the front of the body is variable accordingto switching between an enlarged display mode and a reduced displaymode, wherein the enlarged display mode is operated based on extensionof the second frame and the reduced display mode is operated based oncontraction of the second frame; and a controller, wherein thecontroller is configured to: control output of at least one applicationat the display in the enlarged display mode; control output of anediting screen upon receiving a signal for switching to the reduceddisplay mode; control switching to the reduced display mode based on aresult of the editing screen; control output, on the editing screen, ofa layout icon and a thumbnail image of the at least one applicationbeing output in the enlarged display mode; and control switching to thereduced display mode based on an input signal for selecting the layouticon and the thumbnail image sequentially.
 2. The mobile terminal ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to controlswitching to the reduced display mode based on an input signal forselecting a first layout icon and a first thumbnail image, and controloutput of an application related with the first thumbnail image in thereduced display mode, and wherein the first layout icon is related witha layout for outputting a single application in the reduced displaymode.
 3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller isfurther configured to control switching to the reduced display modebased on an input signal for selecting a second layout icon, a secondthumbnail image, and a third thumbnail image, and control output ofapplications related with the second thumbnail image and the thirdthumbnail image in the reduced display mode, and wherein the secondlayout icon is related with a layout for outputting two applications inthe reduced display mode.
 4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured to control output of a visual effect toa background region except for the layout icon and the thumbnail imageon the editing screen.
 5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured to control output, on the editingscreen, of a thumbnail image of the at least one application beingoutput in the enlarged display mode and a preview image of anapplication to be output in the reduced display mode.
 6. The mobileterminal of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured tocontrol, based on an input signal for selecting the thumbnail image,addition of the selected thumbnail image to the preview image, andcontrol switching to the reduced display mode according to the previewimage.
 7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least oneapplication being output in the enlarged display mode includes a firstapplication and a second application, and wherein, based on the firstapplication being related with an application executed by occurrence ofan event, the controller is further configured to control switching fromthe enlarged display mode to the reduced display mode upon an end of theevent related with the first application.
 8. The mobile terminal ofclaim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to control changeof origin coordinates of the first application and the secondapplication based on the first application being located at a portionfrom which the display region is contracted in the enlarged displaymode.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the controller isfurther configured to control interchange of locations of the firstapplication and the second application based on the first applicationbeing located at a portion from which the display region is contractedin the enlarged display mode.
 10. The mobile terminal of claim 1,wherein the at least one application being output in the enlargeddisplay mode includes a third application and a fourth application, andwherein, based on the third application being related with a presetapplication, the controller is further configured to control switchingto the reduced display mode in a state of maintaining output of thethird application upon receiving the signal for switching to the reduceddisplay mode.
 11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein whether aparticular application is the preset application is determined based onat least one of configuration or non-configuration of the particularapplication by the user, a main screen ratio of the particularapplication, focusing or non-focusing of the particular application inthe enlarged display mode, or how frequently the particular applicationis used alone in the reduced display mode.
 12. The mobile terminal ofclaim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to control changeof a screen size of the third application based on the reduced displaymode upon controlling switching to the reduced display mode.
 13. Themobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control output of a visual effect to applications exceptfor the third application upon controlling switching to the reduceddisplay mode.
 14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controlleris further configured to: control movement of a display portionpositioned at the side of the body to the front of the body and controlmovement of a display portion positioned at the rear of the body to thefront of the body via the side of the body, based on the extension ofthe second frame; and control movement of a display portion positionedat the front of the body to the side of the body or to the rear of thebody via the side of the body, based on the contraction of the secondframe.
 15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a driverconfigured to extend or contract the second frame.
 16. A method ofcontrolling a mobile terminal including a display coupled to a body,wherein the display includes a flexible display surrounding a front, aside, and a rear of the body, the flexible display having a displayregion viewable from the front of the body that is variable according toswitching between an enlarged display mode and a reduced display mode,wherein the body includes a first frame and a second frame extendable orcontractible from the first frame, wherein the second frame isconfigured to include a transparent rear face cover, wherein theenlarged display mode is operated based on extension of the second frameand the reduced display mode is operated based on contraction of thesecond frame, the method comprising: controlling output of at least oneapplication on the display in the enlarged display mode; controllingoutput of an editing screen upon receiving a signal for switching to thereduced display mode; controlling switching to the reduced display modebased on a result of the editing screen; controlling output, on theediting screen, of a layout icon and a thumbnail image of the at leastone application being output in the enlarged display mode; andcontrolling switching to the reduced display mode based on an inputsignal for selecting the layout icon and the thumbnail imagesequentially.